Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Isaiah 6: 1-8

Healing through Worship
 
Vs 7 He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, “This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven.
 

The prophet Isaiah served under the reign of four different kings of Judah; Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.  The vision given to Isaiah recorded in Isaiah 6 took place around the last year of Uzziah’s life. King Uzziah began his reign when he was only 16 years old, and he reigned 52 years. Overall, he was a good king, and 2 Kings 15:3 says, he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He sought God in the days of prophet Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper. Uzziah also led Israel in military victories over the Philistines and other neighboring nations, and he was a strong king.
However, pride caught up and Uzziah transgressed against the LORD  by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.  In response, God struck Uzziah with leprosy, and he was an isolated leper until his death. Uzziah’s end marked the passing of a golden age of both physical blessing and spiritual vigor in Judah. Isaiah saw that such a decline in leadership would lead to the moral decay of the nation. At this crucial hour, the prophet’s attention was turned to God and begins his prophetic ministry.
During the vision, prophet Isaiah became unconscious of the outside world and with his inner eye sees what God revealed to him. He sees the mighty presence of God with the Seraphs singing praises. Isaiah soon recognizes his sinfulness in the presence of the Almighty. Isaiah thought he would die, because he was in the presence of God. The mention of unclean lips means that every word that proceeded from his mouth was not perfect in the presence of  Holy God.
Understanding God’s holiness is a prerequisite to understanding the heinousness of our own sin and our need for redemption through Christ.. Once Isaiah had met with the LORD, been convicted of his sin, and cleansed from its guilt, he was ready to serve God. The prophet answer Gods call.
God never uses anybody without first bringing him to an awareness of his own weakness. The pervading sickness of our day is meaninglessness, an inner conviction of defilement. Many find themselves unable to do what they would like. They feel powerless, unable to control their own destiny. All of us are faced with moments of truth, when we see what Isaiah saw, that the cause of our problems is our own inner defilement. When we see ourselves in this way, thank God for it, for it can be the moment of spiritual healing.

  
PRAYER
Lord, help us to see our inequities and not be judgmental in our thoughts and actions.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Psalms 19 vs 12. None of us can see our own errors; deliver me, Lord, from hidden faults. Keep me safe, also, from willful sins; don't let them rule over me. Then I shall be perfect and free from the evil of sin.
 
Anish Thomas
Marthoma Church of Greater Washington 
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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